“After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move. The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed. “Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.” Matthew 28:1-7- From The Message

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Easter has long been my favorite holiday of the year. Jesus taught with clarity that he would die, be buried, and rise again after three days. The chief priests and Pharisees certainly understood this teaching. They had no fear that Jesus would actually rise from the dead, but they went to Pilate after Jesus’ death and burial to get an order to secure the tomb. They feared that the disciples would come to steal the body away and thereby deceive people into thinking that Jesus had truly risen. They got their guard and security measures, but to no avail. Jesus proved that his word can be trusted when the guards fell down as if dead and the tombstone rolled away to make way for his resurrection. Death does not give way to life like this. The laws of nature and the reality we experience tell us that once dead, people stay dead. But Jesus overturned the laws of nature and became the firstborn from the dead – the great keeper of the promises he made.

Because he has proven that I can believe him in this most difficult of all promises to keep, I know I can believe him for all the promises he made.

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-37

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-18

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

I miss Becky terribly, but on Easter I rejoice in the fact that she believed in and followed Jesus. The promise given has been fulfilled! Jesus is risen, he is risen indeed! And because of this I know that Becky lives too!

“If we humans die, will we live again? That’s my question. All through these difficult days I keep hoping waiting for the final change — for resurrection! Homesick with longing for the creature you made, you’ll call — and I’ll answer!” Job 14:14-15-From The Message

“By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” 1 Corinthians 6:14-From the NIV

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About Gleanings from Claudia

I am a wife, mother, grandmother,sister, and friend newly introduced to grief as I lost my 32 year old daughter in an auto accident in December 2010. I am a follower of Jesus and am journeying through grief while abiding in Christ.